The BC Open Gold Panning Championships are back!

What a great return to the BC Open in 2023 this past May Long Weekend! Welcome back!

Click here to download the final results sheet for 2023.

Our annual Gold Panning Championship event is normally held every May Long Weekend. It is a family winnerevent for one and all. Starting on Friday night with the metal detecting competition.

The whole weekend is filled from morning to night with events like panning, gold rush, claim staking,dirt toss, pan toss, bannock baking, metal detecting, music and games for all different ages and qualifications. All prizes are small nuggets!

There is a delicious pancake breakfast on Saturday & Sunday run by the Lions Club. (Price TBA)

Sunday wraps up with the elimination rounds, the BC Open final round, other games, raffle draws and trophy’s to the winners.

Reservations for camping can be made by contacting Riverside RV Park in Enderby. 1-855-253-2350.   www.enderbycamping.com/  Be sure and check out the other bed and breakfasts, hotels, and other nearby campgrounds if they are full up here. Map location:- http://www.enderbycamping.com/map.html

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Enderby’s Riverside Park and Fields May Long Weekend- Gold Fever Abounds
(This info below is subject to change without notice… We update as often as possible.)

The Vernon Placer Miners Club is presents the annual B.C. Open Gold Panning Championships and Family Fun days during the May Long Weekend in Enderby.  Admission to this event is free. (Camping is extra.)  Winning Gold Nugget prizes for the many games and raffle prizes… All day Saturday and Sunday.  It starts Friday night after set up with music by Jammers -7 p.m. (bring an instrument and a voice and join in), and at 9:30 pm – A Night Time Metal detecting contest. No lights or digging tools permitted.

There will be tubs set up to try your hand at panning for $5.  You’ll always get some gold in these pans and you keep the gold!   Expert panners will help people new to panning get started. Then you’re ready to enter the competitions.

Saturday and Sunday are full days of events.

Pancake breakfasts Saturday and Sunday mornings start off the day at the Lions Club Gazebo.  A Metal Detecting Contest takes place at 9 am each day.  Panning registrations start at 9am.  Gold Panning Eliminations for all ages start at 10 am Saturday with the top 10 in  each category to go in the Finals on Sunday. A Standard 14 inch metal Gold Pan (provided) is used – The Youth have their own Youth Trophy for the highest overall points of both days and Nugget prizes for the top 3 each day in Juniors up to 13 years and Teens 13-up to 16 years old.  They pan for $5.00 which  includes both Saturday and Sunday. The Adults, 16 years and older are divided into 3 categories  for $10-  Novice- new to panning and have never won an event anywhere in the world; Intermediate- have panned  regularly for fun, cleaned up at an operating claim, or placed 1st-3rd. at an event on the circuit; Expert- pan for profit and have won one or more times at an event on the circuit.  The Experts will be panning in the Elimination rounds Saturday with everyone else. Two eliminations are reserved Sunday morning for the first 20 who had to work Saturday at 10 and 10:30am. Registration and Games start at 9 am.   The 1/2 barrel tubs are placed on stands so no one needs to kneel on the ground. A stool is handy for little ones.  Lots of splashing happens,  Be prepared to get wet.

Flat panning in big tubs uses huge flat disks.   Pans  are provided so everyone can try them out. High rubber boots or hip waders are recommended for this event as you get right into the water. Costs $5.00.

Saturday Night continues with more Jamming  music. There will be no Barbecue.  At 6:30 pm the Bannock Baking Contest starts with provided Ingredients.  Bring a frying pan to bake it in,, rack and turner. A bowl or plastic bag to mix it in. Adult and Youth prizes of nuggets and  a Rogers Foods Basket. The Youth are anyone in school. Under 12 must have an adult supervisor at the fires.

Sunday the finals start at 11:00  until 2 pm. The B.C. Open Championship takes place at 2:30 pm. With prizes given out at completion.  There are also draws and a Silent Auction.

Bring a chair and enjoy the fun.  Dress for all kinds of weather.  That’s one thing we can’t control.

Dogs of all sizes must be left at home or in your unit.  All pets, no matter the size, are NOT allowed in the competition/games area, even on a leash or in your coat..   Also please no smoking in these areas.

Rain or shine it’s a go.  No weather stops a miner. PLEASE – Stay away from the river and it’s banks as we expect HIGH WATER at this time..